Improvement in trusses



i, 1f rrnn STATES JOHN L. Rows, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT vIN TRUSSES.

SpeciiiJation forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,555, dated March 30, 1875; application filed March 16, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. ROWE, of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Trusses, of which the following is a specification:

In Letters Patent No. 155,891, granted to me October 13, 1874, the truss-plate is provided with three slots for the waist-belt and perineal straps, and the truss-pad is connected to such plate by a folded spring-strip, and the pressure of the pad is regulated by the screw passing through the plate behind the pad.

In this truss the screw-head, projecting more or less at the back of the plate, interferes with the clothing, and sometimes causes the truss to become displaced in consequence of said screw coming into contact with portions of the clothing or articles external to the same.

My present invention is made for preventing this difficulty, and for allowing the pressure to be adjusted even through the clothing.

I make use of a pawl and ratchet, to retain the pad in position relatively to the plate in place of aforesaid screw, whereby the back of the plate is left smooth, and without projections to interfere with the clothing, and the wearer can set the pad to any desired pressure by increasing the space between the plate and pad, and the pawl retains the same in position.

In the drawing, Figure l is an elevation, and Fig. 2 is a section, of the said pad and truss-plate.

The sheet-metal plate a, with the slots b and c, for the waist-belt and straps, and the slot d for the perineal strap, are similar to those in the aforesaid patent. The padcis connected to the plate a by the returned or folded spring f, and upon the back ofthe pad there is a rack, c', and to the plate a there is a pawl, 0, hinged so that the swinging end takes the said rack and holds the truss-pad at any required distance from the plate, and thereby the pressure of the pad can be increased or lessened by changing the angle of the pawl while the truss is in position upon the wearer.

When there is a double hernia two pads and plates will be used, and they are to be connected together by a strap or metallic band, to retain them at the proper distance apart, and the waistband-straps will be connected to the outer slots of the respective plates.

I am aware that a pawl and ratchet have been employed with a truss connected to a steel spring to Vary the angle of the same.

I claim as my invention- The rack i upon the truss-pad c, and the pawl o, connected with the plate a, in combination with the spring f, pad e, plate c, and supporting-straps, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 12th day of March, A.D.

JOHN L. ROWE. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY, CHAs. H. SMITH. 

